Abstract:
Zinc and copper are essential trace elements. This study determined Zinc and copper contents in some foodstuffs, general diet and enteral formulae served in Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital. The samples were collected for 14 consecutive days (between June, 21 to July, 4 1995) and were analysed by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. It was found that zinc and copper contents of animals origin (except pork liver) were higher than zinc and copper contents of plants origin and those derived from seeds contained zinc and copper contents higher than other part of the plants. Analysed zinc and copper contents of 63 main dishes were 1.92 +_ 1.27 mg/dish and 0.26 _+ 0.14 mg/dish and of desserts were 0.30 +_ 0.26 mg/dish and 0.10 +_ 0.06 mg/dish, respectively. The average daily intake of zinc and copper from general diet served in Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital were 18.17 and 2.39 mg, respectively, which were adequate for the patient's requirement. There were no statistically different between analysed and calculated zinc and copper contents of general diet. Zinc and copper contents of some enteral formulae were lower than the requirement of patient.